Post-Newtown, NRA membership surges to 5 million

LaPierre: 'How many Bostonians wished they had a gun 2 weeks ago?'

Published: 05/04/2013 at 9:29 PM

(USA Today) Efforts to pass gun-control legislation have only made the National Rifle Association stronger, as the membership rolls now surpass a record 5 million, NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre told the gun rights group’s annual meeting Saturday.

“The state of the NRA is stronger and larger than it has ever been,” LaPierre told more than 3,000 NRA members. “Our commitment to freedom is unwavering and our growth is unprecedented. … By the time we’re finished, the NRA must and will be 10 million strong.”

About one-tenth of the members have joined in the past six months, the NRA says.